Series 559 - John Gordon-Kirkby Papua New Guinea Field Officer's Journals

Identity area

Reference code

AU ANUA 559

Title

John Gordon-Kirkby Papua New Guinea Field Officer's Journals

Date(s)

  • 1964 - 1972 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

0.2 m (1 type 1 box)

Context area

Name of creator

(1936 -)

Biographical history

John Gordon-Kirkby was born in Gibraltar in 1936 to British parents living in Spain. John spent his early life in Spain and Morocco, attending primary schools in Tangier and boarding schools in England. In 1956 he commenced National Service training with the HM Royal Marines and in 1961 migrated to Australia as a ‘Ten Pound Pom’, arriving in Melbourne on 26 November 1961.

From 1964 – 1978, John Gordon-Kirkby was a Patrol Officer ('Kiap' or Field Officer) in Papua New Guinea. Patrol Officers, or Kiaps were trained at the Australian School of Pacific Administration, a tertiary institution established by the Australian Government to train administrators and school teachers to work in Papua New Guinea.

Following his training in Sydney, John Gordon-Kirkby was engaged as a Cadet Patrol Officer before becoming a full Patrol Officer, and finally, he became an Assistant District Officer.

After leaving Papua New Guinea he followed a varied career in farming and administrative work, and in 1994 he retired to Mornington, Victoria where he is actively involved in community organisations. He is a museum volunteer, U3A teacher and member of the Mornington Historical Society.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Carbon copy of journal from the commencement of service on 1 June 1964 to or 14 February 1965, including stations at Rabaul, Kokopo, Messawa, Manus (Lorengau), Balluan and Rambutso. Also includes papers related to the creation of the Enga Cultural Centre and the story of the Enga Provincial Flag.

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related subjects

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places